Olympus expand Tough range of digital cameras

August 28, 2007 Olympus have added a new entry-level Tough Lite 790SW and Tough 795SW to the popular Tough range of digital cameras already available. Shockproof and waterproof to a depth of 10m, new TruePic III image processor, revolutionary face detection and shadow adjust technology are all included features in the new range. Tough cameras are fashioned for everyday punishment, combining compact stylishness with robust shockproof and waterproof construction.

The 795SW has a robust shockproof and waterproof construction incorporated into a slim silver body design. The model is shockproof when dropped from up to 1.5 meters, (tested according to US military standards) and crushproof from forces of up to 100 kg due to the engineering of both camera housing and LCD screen which disperses load pressure. It features a folded optical path lens, internal cushioning and a suspension mount for key electronic components. The new Olympus’ construction is also reinforced to withstand water pressure at all key points, making it waterproof to a depth of up to 10m. Combined with this, the 795SW is able to withstand temperatures as low as -10°C, which is a feature not normally found in entry level digital cameras. These attributes enables the camera to be used in a variety of outdoor situations, including all kinds off water sports and winter activities.

Olympus’ new image processing engine, the Truepic III, works in conjunction with the high-resolution lens and 7.1-megapixel image sensor to achieve a high image quality. The Truepic III processor was originally developed for Olympus’ E-410 and E-510 digital SLR’s, and improves the camera’s performance by reducing noise, detecting jagged edges to reproduce them smoothly, and consistently reproducing sharp colors, even pale colors like skin tones. The Face Detection Technology and Shadow Adjustment enable advanced auto-focus and auto exposure for face & background areas. This technology allows the photographer to balance foreground and background exposure to ensure that both are perfectly exposed just as your eyes see it. In backlit situations where the subject's face may be underexposed, conventional face-detection systems tend to overcompensate, and overexpose the background, causing loss of image detail. Accordingly, the Olympus 795SW ensures sharp focus on the subject's face, and displays a green frame on the LCD monitor to indicate when faces are detected. It also recognizes when there are no people in the frame, and automatically adjusts the focus and exposure, displaying it in real-time on the LCD screen.